The South Wales Police Federation constables branch board chair, Steve Treharne, wrote to me recently about the safety of police officers, but he also talked about the need to give the same protections to police animals, as an extension of what he called the police family. I … [Read more...]
Westminster Archive
Animal Cruelty – Sentencing – 8th November
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I am pleased to respond to today’s very important debate, and I am profoundly grateful to my hon. Friend Anna Turley for securing it. I commend the work she is doing on animal welfare, particularly … [Read more...]
Westminster Hall – Thursday 3rd November 2016 Future of the UK Steel industry
To say it has been a difficult year for the steel workers of Neath and Port Talbot would be an understatement. The challenge of competing in a global market, the absence of anti-dumping tariffs, the lifting of the lesser-duty rate and Brexit, all conspire to create a … [Read more...]
Westminster Hall Tuesday 2nd November – Social Media and Young People’s Mental Health
Perfection. The state or quality of being perfect. A state completely free of faults or defects. Perfection is popular; people are attracted to it; people are attracted to you. In 2016, perfection is everything. Or, rather, to young people of it is. Amongst young people, there’s a pressure … [Read more...]
My Speech – The Youth Parliament Select Committee Report on Young Peoples Mental Health
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would also like to thank the Backbench Business Committee for allowing this debate. I’ve got a new member of staff in the Commons, Matthew van Rooyen. He’s 18 going on 28. Cool, calm and I have only seen him panic when he lost his hair gel. And, by an amazing coincidence, he’s from the village where I was born: Kenfig Hill. … [Read more...]
Badgers Debate – 7th September
It is an honour to serve with you in the Chair, Mrs Main. I thank Dr Monaghan for securing this timely debate. Animal rights and welfare is an issue I am very passionate about. The culling of badgers to prevent the spread of diseases is not a new concept and has gone on across Europe since the ’70s, but it was largely abandoned in the UK during the 1980s and is now … [Read more...]
My Cooperative maiden speech – 14th July
Westminster Hall – Thursday 14th July 2016 Contribution of cooperatives to the economy It is a great honour and privilege to give my maiden speech as a Labour and Cooperative MP at today’s debate on the contribution of cooperatives to the economy, and I thank my Honorable Friend for Cardiff South and Penarth for convening it. It is a timely debate, and I am … [Read more...]
UK Steel industry Speech – 13th July
Westminster Hall – Wednesday 13th July 2016 Implications for the UK Steel industry of the outcome of the EU Referendum It is widely accepted that steel and the steel industry are essential to Wales and its economy, which is particularly the case for my constituency and the people of Neath. The TATA steel works in Port Talbot and Trostre, in the … [Read more...]
The economic benefits of the UK’s membership of the EU
These past weeks the debate has raged on the extent of the economic benefits of EU membership, with both sides of the referendum campaign declaring their beliefs one way or another. Well, I know which side I am on, and whilst to me it is clear that there are great economic benefits from being a member of the European Union, these benefits are never more obvious than when in … [Read more...]
Welsh Bill Debate Speech
When the Welsh Assembly was constituted in 1999, there were 20 conferred subject areas where matters would be determined by the Welsh people through their democratically elected representatives. As one famous Welsh politician once said “Devolution is a process not an event” and during the 17 years since the Assembly came into existence, there have been 3 constitutional … [Read more...]